June 6, 2026
Council’s climate policy a backwards step
Opinion

Council’s climate policy a backwards step

Dear News Of The Area, I READ with horror that the Port Macquarie/Hastings Council has repealed its climate change policies. Cr Maltman argues that we cannot change the climate on the globe nor the climate in our local area. This to me is limited thinking. The argument that the council cannot change the global or […]

Read More
All welcome at Wauchope Arts Trail 2026
Opinion

All welcome at Wauchope Arts Trail 2026

Dear News Of The Area, ARTS Trail 2026 WRAP, at the Rotary Hall on Oxley Lane, in Wauchope, is one of the Arts Trail 2026 Hubs. This weekend, professional and emerging artists will exhibit their work at the Hub. They invite members of the community, families and friends to celebrate their creations. This inclusive exhibition […]

Read More
Concerns over council’s Climate Change Response Policy
Opinion

Concerns over council’s Climate Change Response Policy

Dear News Of The Area, PORT Macquarie-Hastings Council’s decision to repeal its Climate Change Response Policy is deeply disappointing for many in our community. The motion to remove the policy entirely was led by Councillor Hornshaw, who has publicly rejected human-caused climate change, opposed the Paris Agreement, and criticised renewable energy and Net Zero policies. […]

Read More
Renewables cool heated electricity costs
Opinion

Renewables cool heated electricity costs

Dear News Of The Area, IT’S happening! Electricity prices are set to fall. The energy regulator has cut the maximum price retailers can charge from 1 July. Households in NSW will get a 5 per cent cut to power bills while businesses will gain by up to 21 per cent. The main reason is the […]

Read More
Inland Rail cancellation good news for western NSW
Opinion

Inland Rail cancellation good news for western NSW

THE news in the article ‘Cut to rail route sparks fury from farmers and regions’ that farmers and people in the regions are furious that the Inland Rail project has been cancelled certainly does not apply to the majority of those along the intended route from Parkes to the Queensland border. Included in these happy […]

Read More
Letter from the Editor: Fond farewell
Letter to the Editor

Letter from the Editor: Fond farewell

By Doug CONNOR, Group Editor AFTER just shy of six years manning the News Of The Area news desk, I have made the difficult decision to leave my role as Group Editor. Before I officially depart next Friday (29 May), I wanted to take the opportunity to offer my sincere thanks to everyone who has […]

Read More
Letter to the Editor: The rules of war
Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: The rules of war

DEAR News Of The Area, I WOULD like to say I agree with Keith Wilkinson (8 May Edition). I too have read a couple of Pete Sobey’s letters and think that he means well but like me has never been in a war situation with bullets and rockets whizzing around your head and of course […]

Read More
‘On the couch’ with Jasminda
Jasminda's Advice

‘On the couch’ with Jasminda

DEAR Jasminda, How do we cope when there is so much chaos in the world? It feels as though every new day brings a worse news story than the day before. Georgia D. Dear Georgia, There is no point denying that the world feels as though it is in a massive state of flux at […]

Read More